Susan Creasey is working to move The Lamoine into future.
Originally hired as the organization’s director of marketing and sales earlier this summer, Creasey was appointed interim executive director of the senior residential facility, which is locally owned by Chris Trotter, Aug. 1 to reimagine the nearly six-year-old organization. Her goal: to ensure that their residents receive outstanding care.
“Ensuring that your loved ones get top-notch care is why we’re here,” Creasey told The Community News Brief in a recent interview. “Everything we do, every decision we make, is with our residents’ care in mind.”
Creasey, who was born and raised in the region, is a two-time Western Illinois University graduate. She and her husband, Robb, have raised four daughters on their southeastern Macomb farm, and prior to retiring from WIU after 30 years, she taught marketing and business for 20 years, and worked in the institution’s Human Resources Department for 10 years. Creasey has parlayed her experience teaching students the basics of business, along with her experience serving the employees HR, coupled with her business undergrad and MBA degrees, into her new role at The Lamoine.
“My previous experience in both HR and teaching lends itself well to not only hiring resident-focused staff, but also training our employees on best practices, as well as running, and marketing an organization like The Lamoine,” she shared. “I’ve been able to use my expertise in a number of areas to really take a deep dive into the organization to not only ensure it’s running efficiently, but most of all to make sure our staff remains resident-focused to ensure that we provide exceptional comfort and care.”
Creasey’s personal motto that she brings with her to the job is “time, energy and effort,” meaning that she and the staff should be devoting their time, energy and effort into making The Lamoine a comfortable, safe and warm place for its residents and the nearly 50 employees. With 44 apartments in The Lamoine, this provides an opportunity for the staff to get to know the residents well, she noted.
“Everything that we do is with our residents’ care in mind. We know them, and we know them personally,” Creasey added. “We are a family here, and we take care of one another. Prioritizing resident care is our number one job.”
According to Creasey, a common misconception that some might have, which many of residents want to dispel, is that The Lamoine is “just a nursing home.” It’s an independent living dwelling that’s suited for those who are able to get out and about, drive, shop and more on their own, but want less “home” to care for in terms of upkeep, yet it does offer assisted living units as well as a two-floor secure, licensed memory care unit (Dorothy K’s Place). There are also a few units available for short-term respite stays, or “vacation stays” for those whose family members serve as home-based caretakers and might need place to call home for a few weeks. Beyond the living and care aspect, the center gets residents out and about on field trips, shopping jaunts and medical trips, hosts special events and entertainment, provides laundry services, three meals a day (and snacks) and caregiver support.
“We provide the level of care our residents need. If they need a little assistance with getting dressed, we can do that. If they need more care, we have staff here 24/7 that will ensure their needs are met,” she explained.
Trotter added that The Lamoine is not just a business to him, rather it’s his goal to support families.
“My goal is to support families who may be facing care challenges for a loved one with dementia or who simply need oversight and more safety for a family member, as well as supporting those seniors who want to maybe downsize, yet still remain independent,” he said. “My own family is supported here, so this is a personal mission for me. Lasting care and compassion for our seniors in the community is our mission.”
Some of Creasey’s goals for the future of The Lamoine include expanding such offerings as Caring & Connections, a monthly support group; growing the organization’s benevolence fund, and seeing the organization continue to grow and thrive. Ensuring qualified, motivated and happy staff is also a priority, she pointed out.
“Aging is a fact of life, and my goal is to ensure that everyone who walks through these doors are treated with dignity and respect,” Creasey said. “I try to come into The Lamoine every day with a positive attitude. Our residents and our staff deserve that.
“We have wonderful staff who truly care,” she concluded. “At the end of the day, we’re all here for the same reason: to care for our residents the way we would want to be cared for and the way we’d want our loved ones cared for.”
